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Fate Is the Hunter: A Pilot's Memoir Paperback – July 2, 1986

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,327 ratings

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Ernest K. Gann’s classic pilot's memoir is an up-close and thrilling account of the treacherous early days of commercial aviation. “Few writers have ever drawn readers so intimately into the shielded sanctum of the cockpit, and it is hear that Mr. Gann is truly the artist” (The New York Times Book Review).

“A splendid and many-faceted personal memoir that is not only one man’s story but the story, in essence, of all men who fly” (
Chicago Tribune). In his inimitable style, Gann brings you right into the cockpit, recounting both the triumphs and terrors of pilots who flew when flying was anything but routine.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mr. Gann is a writer saturated in his subject; he has the skill to make every instant sharp and important and we catch the fever to know that documentary writing does not often invite." -- V.S. Pritchett ― New Statesman

"This book is an episodic log of some of the more memorable of [the author's] nearly ten thousand hours aloft in peace and (as a member of the Air Transport Command) in war. It is also an attempt to define by example his belief in the phenomenon of luck -- that 'the pattern of anyone fate is only partly contrived by the individual.'" -- The New Yorker

"Few writers have ever drawn their readers so intimately into the shielded sanctum of the cockpit, and it is here that Mr. Gann is truly the artist." -- New York Times Book Review

"Fate Is the Hunter is partly autobiographical, partly a chronicle of some of the most memorable and courageous pilots the reader will ever encounter in print; and always this book is about the workings of fate. . . . The book is studded with characters equally as memorable as the dramas they act out." -- Cornelius Ryan, author of A Bridge Too Far and The Longest Day

"This fascinating, well-told autobiography is a complete refutation of the comfortable cliché that 'man is master of his fate.' As far as pilots are concerned, fate (or death) is a hunter who is constantly in pursuit of them. . . . There is nothing depressing about Fate Is the Hunter. There is tension and suspense in it but there is great humor too. Happily, Gann never gets too technical for the layman to understand." -- Saturday Review

"This purely wonderful autobiographical volume is the best thing on flying and the meaning of flying that we have had since Antoine de Saint-Exupéry took us aloft on his winged prose in the late 1930s and early 1940s. . . . It is a splendid and many-faceted personal memoir that is not only one man's story but the story, in essence, of all men who fly." -- Chicago Sunday Tribune

About the Author

Ernest K. Gann is the author of numerous books, among them The High and the Mighty, Twilight for the Gods, The Aviator, and The Magistrate. He lives in Anacortes, Washington, and continues to write and publish prolifically.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; First Edition (July 2, 1986)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0671636030
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0671636036
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1.2 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,327 ratings

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Ernest Kellogg Gann
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
2,327 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They appreciate the riveting stories and the author's skillful storytelling. The writing style is praised as eloquent and descriptive, with a unique sense of novel writing rules. Readers find the book enjoyable and thrilling, bringing back the joy of daily airline flying. The pacing is described as poignant and engrossing, with descriptions of near disasters being gripping and frightening. Overall, customers describe the book as a fantastic look back at the early days of commercial aviation, studded with gems of aviation art.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

250 customers mention "Readability"247 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They say it's a seminal work covering the author's career in aviation. The descriptions of aviation and aircraft are thrilling and educational, but never too technical. Readers appreciate the skillful narration by a skilled pilot and writer.

"This is a must-read for anyone remotely interested in aviation. Gann was a pioneer in the early days of the commercial aviation industry...." Read more

"...art from a period that now seems very long ago, or as a thoughtful reflection on danger and man's reaction to it, guided by a deep familiarity with..." Read more

"...danger we can’t easily comprehend today, and learning and advancing airplane technology and flying. Truly a page turner...." Read more

"excellent book" Read more

96 customers mention "Story quality"90 positive6 negative

Customers find the stories riveting and the narrative covers a series of incidents and accidents. They describe the book as a great memoir of world-wide experiences in the air when technologies, the airline business, and aircraft were evolving. While some stories seem mundane, others build to the showdown, making it memorable and iconic. The author describes his life flying for the Air Transport Command in fascinating detail.

"...of a classic that can be read on at least two levels: as a drawn-out adventure story taking place over a period of years, studded with gems of..." Read more

"...twists of fate and seniority numbers, the book is a masterpiece of carefully woven tales designed to tell some of the history of commercial aviation..." Read more

"...Numerous stories about his personal experiences within the hard 'boot camp' of being trained and selected for flight in the old days, stories..." Read more

"...It is a riveting true story that makes the reader feel like an invisible observer riding along on the jumpseat during countless flights, dealing..." Read more

96 customers mention "Writing style"90 positive6 negative

Customers praise the writing style as well-crafted and engaging. They appreciate the author's skill with the English language and how each word accurately captures the event and its emotional impact. The book is described as a detailed account of an airline pilot's experience written by a skilled writer.

"...Excellent writing." Read more

"...now is not so much the aviation aspect but the way the language is crafted to hold the reader. I will read it again and again." Read more

"Reads like novel in almost poetic style with thriller contents. One of the first airline pilots that started his career in the barnstorming days...." Read more

"...Gann's writing style is very personal in the book, and the people he describes become personal to the reader, through Gann's writing skill...." Read more

35 customers mention "Enjoyment"35 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and informative. It brings back the joy of daily airline flying, revealing the wonder and thrill of a good landing. Readers describe it as great for anyone who loves excitement and adventure. The book is described as fun and informative, with hair-raising flying experiences.

"...It is perilous, full of tension, fear, sadness, danger we can’t easily comprehend today, and learning and advancing airplane technology and flying...." Read more

"...the history of commercial aviation and to hold the reader in a constant state of nail biting anticipation...." Read more

"...category aircraft we enjoy flying today, and the myriad ways safety has been enhanced...." Read more

"...in my mind what was happening, and I felt the same emotions of joy, excitement, frustration, fear, sheer terror, but also the wonder, admiration and..." Read more

26 customers mention "Pacing"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging. They find the descriptions of near disasters gripping and terrifying. The book captures the spirit of piloting, with equal respect for victories and tragedies.

"...It is perilous, full of tension, fear, sadness, danger we can’t easily comprehend today, and learning and advancing airplane technology and flying...." Read more

"Aviation history as told by a survivor. Surviving was experience, precision, teamwork, and sometimes just a matter of fate." Read more

"Reads like novel in almost poetic style with thriller contents. One of the first airline pilots that started his career in the barnstorming days...." Read more

"...career, running the gamut from boring and mundane to unbelievably tense and frightening, made me feel like I was riding along in the cockpit in each..." Read more

21 customers mention "Style"21 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's style and vocabulary. They find it a fantastic look back at the early days of commercial aviation, filled with gems of aviation art. Readers describe the book as masterful, colorful, and memorable.

"...out adventure story taking place over a period of years, studded with gems of aviation art from a period that now seems very long ago, or as a..." Read more

"One of the most memorable, iconic, and realistic looks at what it's like in aviation...." Read more

"...In impeccable style, Ernest Gann tells the reader about his career as an airline pilot beginning in the late 1930's when commercial aviation was..." Read more

"...Capt Gann paints a masterful picture of the dangerous days of early aviation and of the mysterious force, fate, that keeps excellent young aviators..." Read more

8 customers mention "Value for money"8 positive0 negative

Customers like the book's value. They find it an excellent read.

"...It arrive in quick order and. Dry good shape at a great price." Read more

"Great book and the price was better than a bookstore" Read more

"...It was as represented and in very good shape for an honest price." Read more

"...Anyone with even a passing interest in aviation will find great value in this book!" Read more

When Airline Flying Was Growing Up
5 out of 5 stars
When Airline Flying Was Growing Up
This is Ernest K. Gann at his classic best. He not only wrote it he lived it, richly and with knowing details of a pilot's personal experiences with his friends, adventures and tragerdies. Great memoir of world-wide experiences in the air when the technologies, the airline business, and the rules were all in play and rolling turbulently on. A not-to-be-missed sky-high epic set of adventures told in down-to-earth captivating language that impacts long after the book is finished.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2025
    This is a must-read for anyone remotely interested in aviation. Gann was a pioneer in the early days of the commercial aviation industry. Excellent writing.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2012
    Earnest K. Gann is a well known aviation writer and before that, a succesful pilot of airliners and military transports in the time period during, before, and after World War II. "Fate is the Hunter" is probably his best known book, and it deserves to be. Reading it, we are in the presence of a classic that can be read on at least two levels: as a drawn-out adventure story taking place over a period of years, studded with gems of aviation art from a period that now seems very long ago, or as a thoughtful reflection on danger and man's reaction to it, guided by a deep familiarity with the psychology of superstition.

    From the first point of view, we get to see the near-collision with the Taj Mahal on takeoff, and the wild ride in ice-laden clouds over the Applachians that nearly brought down Capt. Gann's airliner in a time period when anti-ice equipment was primitive and instrument navigation in its infancy. Straddling the two points of view we have the Arctic adventure when a military transport with wounded coming back from Europe has to land on a frozen lake in Canada, in a region with so much natural magnetism that navigation systems of the day are useless, a region so vast that radio contact can only be made when the target has already been localized and the search aircraft is getting rather close to it. I'm remembering a movie of this that I saw in childhood, although I lack the online skills to find the name and date; but Mr. Gann's description of it is ever so much scarier.

    As we read through the book, which is a fast, exciting read, we begin to see the second point of view. Like everything that humans perceive as very dangerous, early aviation had superstitions. Looking back on his career at a mature age, Capt. Gann names all his colleagues, pilots just as good as himself in all humility, and wonders why, after so many near misses, he is practically the only one still alive to tell the tale. He concludes, I believe, that there is a mysterious fate choosing its next victim like a Valkyrie flying in formation with each airplane. You can soar effortlessly above the clouds in godlike majesty for many hours, but someday this force will rear back and bite you. If you live you'll have a tale like Mr. Gann's to tell your grandchildren, and if you don't, it could be months before the search parties find what's left of your body.

    Those of us who have learned to fly in "modern times" (say, after 1970?), and the general public as well, have little notion of how dangerous flying really is. We are taught that 80% (or something) of accidents are caused by pilot error, and if you follow procedures meticulously, "flying is safer than driving to the airport." (This is a familiar cliche now.)

    Mr. Gann's book shows us this isn't true. Like everything, flying depends on humans to carry it out. Humans forget they have already loaded an airplane to capacity and fill the fuel tanks to capacity as well. Humans fail to tie down the cargo. Humans make navigational errors, or start an approach when the airport is below minimums because the wind was different than predicted and they don't have enough fuel to fly someplace else to land. Humans get a report from the stewardess that there is an unusual vibration coming from the rear and ignore it because they are scheduled to go on leave after this flight and want badly to get home.

    Pilots will devour this book. But everyone, even those who don't give a d@#n about aviation and have never flown in their lives, should read it. When they have finished, they should re-think our present day delusion that we can make any technology safe that involves energy management (high speeds, high altitudes, high pressures or temperatures, explosive or flammable fuels). However, they also need to reflect that before aviation and automobiles, before railroads, one of the most common causes of death for healthy males in England was falls from horseback. (This is attested in Dr. Paul Johnson's book, "The Birth of the Modern: World Society 1815-1830.")

    Danger is omnipresent in this world. When humans are aware enough of it to trigger our natural reaction, fear, we develop superstitions to help us cope. The reality might well be that it's mostly random, even after you've done everything right. But humans can't coldly face that unless they are very special. Earnest K. Gann was that kind of person, and his thoughts on danger are therefore relevant for the rest of us.
    31 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2024
    Each chapter is a story about the author’s direct experience as a pioneer of commercial aviation. It is perilous, full of tension, fear, sadness, danger we can’t easily comprehend today, and learning and advancing airplane technology and flying. Truly a page turner. Anyone with an interest in aviation or more generally in exploring new frontiers and the heroes who die for the sake of advancing untested technology and the inevitable push forward will love this book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2024
    excellent book
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2024
    Aviation history as told by a survivor. Surviving was experience, precision, teamwork, and sometimes just a matter of fate.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
    1st - This guy can write... 2nd - Mr Gann's long and varied career as a commercial pilot and a wartime pilot is never less than exciting.... (and hair raising)... Something I never knew: As the airlines (and the US government) were promoting flying as convenient and safe, the life insurance industry would not insure any pilots until about 1959. Mr Gann and his fellow pilots knew the risks all too well.
    Excellent Book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2010
    I read this book the first time in the early 1960's, when I was aspiring to become an airline pilot through pilot training offered by the Royal Canadian Air Force. A friend lent it to me (we were both attempting to re-muster to aircrew and thought that by flying at our own cost at a flying club we would have a leg up). I read it in its entirely in a single weekend. I purchased the book for myself but I made the mistake of lending it to a friend, who was transferred before he was able to return it to me. I again purchased the book and re-read it in a single "sitting". Again the book disappeared. The third time I purchased the book, I guarded it with all my might but again it went missing probably due to the diligence of my wife through one of the transfers common to the military. In the end I wasn't able to fulfill my dream of becoming an airline pilot due to the arrival of a peptic ulcer. I recently purchased the book for a fourth time (through Amazon). On this latest reading I discovered the true depth of Earnest K. Gann's ability to spellbound with the written word. I am long past the desire to fly for a living, indeed It might be said that I am way past retirement age, nevertheless the book held me transfixed with the author's elegant use of the English language. Notwithstanding the stories of cheating death through neat twists of fate and seniority numbers, the book is a masterpiece of carefully woven tales designed to tell some of the history of commercial aviation and to hold the reader in a constant state of nail biting anticipation. Its attraction now is not so much the aviation aspect but the way the language is crafted to hold the reader. I will read it again and again.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A classic.
    Reviewed in Canada on December 2, 2024
    Worth owing as a pilot or a gift for a pilot. A tale of some of the early days of flying commercial aircraft. Good for anyone interested in well told tales of flying back in the day.
  • Bampot7062
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great book about a fascinating life.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2025
    Quite simply one of the most impressive and absorbing autobiographies I have ever read. I first encountered it in my teens - loved it then. Read it a couple of times later - found new treasures each time. Lent my copy away - didn't get it back (GRR!) so this is a replacement. Anyone interested in aviation should read this book; anyone interested in the human spirit and human life should read it too. A magnificent piece of writing and a genuine window into the truth of the human condition.
  • Noah K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lesezeit verging wie im Flug
    Reviewed in Germany on August 1, 2024
    Super spannendes, informatives und unterhaltsames Buch. Man fiebert wirklich mit dem Autor mit. Nur die Vokabeln sind nicht immer die aller einfachsten. An dieser Stelle ist die Kindle Version zu empfehlen.
  • Greg M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best ever reading for pilots.
    Reviewed in France on September 10, 2022
    Gann puts the reader into the cockpit better than any other writer. At times I found myself stretching to reach rudder pedals !
  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars masterpiece!
    Reviewed in Italy on July 24, 2022
    I loved every page of it! The author is one of the best writer I ever red! Wonderful, poetic, tchnically interesting!